Two works by Edward Gregson will be performed by the Black Dyke Band on January 27 to open the Royal Northern College of Music’s Brass Band Festival. The composer will conduct the European Championship-winning band in the world premiere of his Four Études for brass band in a concert that will also feature the third performance of Gregson’s 2016 Cornet Concerto, played by Richard Marshall.

The RNCM Brass Band Festival, which runs from 27-29 January, this year hosts the current National, Open and European Brass Band Champions and is the only place to see all of Britain’s top brass bands in a non-competitive environment.

On January 27 the Black Dyke Band release their new CD Dances and Arias on World of Sound’s label, Doyen. This collection, the sixth volume of recordings of works by Gregson, features the premiere recordings of Four Études and the Cornet Concerto alongside earlier works Patterns, Trumpets of the Angels, and Dances and Arias.

Presteigne Festival

This August Edward Gregson features as Composer in Residence to the Presteigne Festival. As well as featuring a number of works, the festival has commissioned his String Quartet No 2 which will be performed by the Nightingale Quartet. The full festival programme will be announced in April.

Gregson’s Cornet Concerto, which premiered at the European Brass Band Festival’s Gala Concert in Lille, France, on 30 April 2016, is now available to buy in its reduced form for piano and soloist. The work was commissioned by the Black Dyke Band in conjunction with Gregson’s role as Composer in Association.

Edward Gregson (b. 1945) is a composer of international standing, whose music has been performed, broadcast, and commercially recorded worldwide. Born in Sunderland, Gregson attended the Royal Academy of Music in 1963 and from 1996–2008, he served as Principal of the Royal Northern College of Music. Of particular significance in his orchestral output is his series of concertos (for horn, tuba, trombone, trumpet, clarinet, piano, violin, saxophone, cello, flute and many more) which he commenced in 1970 and is still ongoing. It is his works for brass that have entered the repertory world-wide, yet his writing for full orchestra is equally masterful. Energetic and engaging, both his orchestral works and brass band have been widely recorded on the Chandos label by the BBC Philharmonic, Black Dyke Band, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, and the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. Full biography | edwardgregson.com

Listen on Spotify

Listen to our curated Gregson playlist on Spotify, bringing you the best of his orchestral scores and works for brass. Included here are his internationally performed Tuba Concerto, his striking companion piece to Mahler 6 Dream Song, and the energetic and uplifting Clarinet Concerto.